Chapter 82 I'm Sick, Pretty Seriously
The phone rang—Tyler calling back.
Nicholas gave a concise description of everything that had happened that evening, particularly the vanishing and reappearing situation.
Tyler's voice on the other end was grave. "The only ones who can achieve that kind of visual deception are the Laurent family with their stealth technique."
The Laurent family.
At that name, Nicholas's heart sank.
He knew about that lunatic from the Laurent family and their obsession with Dr. N, the years of harassment, and finally the kill order. That's when he'd stepped in.
Now they were targeting Emma—could it be for the equations related to Dr. N that she possessed?
The air around him turned cold.
Absolutely not.
He wouldn't let anyone hurt her again.
"Bring Hannah back," he commanded into the phone, his tone brooking no argument.
His cold eyes stared fixedly at the white light glowing from a second-floor window.
The next day.
At exactly nine AM, Emma appeared at the courthouse entrance.
The sun was a bit harsh, so she raised her hand to shield her eyes. Time ticked by, second by second.
Nine-ten! Nine-twenty! Nine-thirty!
Still no sign of Nicholas.
Emma's patience was completely exhausted. She pulled out her phone and dialed the number she knew by heart.
After a few rings, the call connected, and her pent-up anger erupted as she launched into him.
"Nicholas, are you an idiot? We agreed on nine o'clock—what time is it now? Where the hell are you!"
"Is messing with me fun for you?"
The other end was silent for a few seconds, then came a clearly weak voice accompanied by deliberately suppressed coughing.
"Emma... I'm sick. cough cough... cough... I feel... pretty awful."
Emma's harsh words stuck in her throat.
She paused, stunned.
Sick?
He'd seemed perfectly healthy when he rescued her yesterday.
Though there had been a heavy downpour last night.
She unconsciously lowered her voice, with a hint of suspicion. "What's wrong with you?"
Nicholas's voice sounded even weaker, barely a whisper.
"I feel completely drained... dizzy too... I think I might have caught something."
Of course he knew why.
Last night, he'd been caught in the rain, then came home and took a cold shower. It would be strange if he didn't get sick.
Emma listened to his voice that sounded like he was on death's door, feeling inexplicably irritated.
She took a breath, her tone flat and emotionless.
"Wait there."
With that, she hung up directly.
Nicholas gripped his phone, a satisfied smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Half an hour later, he slowly crawled out of bed.
He leaned against the door, building up his act, thinking about how to appear even more pitiful and miserable.
The doorbell suddenly rang.
She came!
Nicholas took a deep breath, adjusted his expression to look weak and helpless, and reached for the door handle.
Standing at the door was a man in a business suit, looking stern.
It was Charlie!
Nicholas's expression instantly froze, his prepared performance having nowhere to go.
"Why is it you?"
Charlie bowed slightly, his tone respectful. "Mr. Harrison, ma'am called saying you weren't feeling well and asked me to take you to the hospital."
Nicholas's face turned completely cold, his eyes dropping to freezing temperatures.
He leaned against the doorframe, his voice hoarse with an undeniable command.
"Not necessary."
This woman—did she lack any sense of gratitude? He'd just saved her last night!
His expression was so grim!
"Are the new documents ready?" he suddenly asked.
Documents?
"Yes, yes, they're in my briefcase," Charlie quickly replied.
"I'll change clothes and go to the Moore Group!" Nicholas strode upstairs with vigorous steps—where was any sign of being too sick to get up?
So he was faking illness, not wanting to go to court—a bit of scheming!
Wait, did he just say he was going to the Moore Group?
Charlie suddenly felt panicked!
...
The atmosphere in the car was oppressive.
Nicholas leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed, his fingertips unconsciously tapping his knee, his brow slightly furrowed.
His phone rang abruptly.
He glanced at it—Ethan.
"Nicholas, guess who I spotted in Skyview City? It's Emma. She and Evelyn headed up the mountain, looks like they're going to Eternal Gardens Cemetery.
I had someone follow them. Do you want to come over?"
Nicholas was startled. How did she end up in Skyview City?
It was about fifty miles from here to Skyview City, roughly an hour's drive.
Ethan's voice grew more intense, carrying a ruthless edge.
"Just take her directly. You understand? On your turf, no matter how defiant her attitude, you need to conquer her!"
Ethan's lips curved coldly, his eyes frighteningly icy. "Make sure that Matthew can never find her, no matter what!"
"Right, that's settled then. I'll wait for you. I'll have people keep following them first."
After hanging up, Nicholas had the driver change course toward Skyview City.
Skyview City, Eternal Gardens Cemetery.
Tall trees formed a canopy overhead, casting dappled shadows.
Rows of headstones stood in neat formation on the hillside, solemn and quiet.
Today was Mary's death anniversary.
Emma and Evelyn, dressed in knee-length black dresses, stood quietly before a gravestone.
Fresh white daisies and lilies were arranged before the grave, along with several plates of delicate pastries—her favorite treats when she was alive.
Emma bent down, her fingertips gently tracing the photo embedded in the headstone, where an elderly woman smiled kindly.
"Grandma Mary, Evelyn and I came to visit you."
Her voice was soft, carrying an almost imperceptible tremor.
"Three years already. Time really flies."
"I... I'll be leaving Emerald City soon, going to Novaria. I probably won't be able to visit as often."
She sniffled, trying to hold back her tears.
"Don't worry, Robert's doing well, still going strong. He has trouble getting up the mountain, but he asked me to bring you your favorite cookies and pastries—all the ones you loved. You'll have to wait patiently for him there."
Emma chatted on and on, her eyes still uncontrollably reddening.
Her meeting with Mary had been by chance, but she'd been cherished like a real granddaughter. The only regret was returning too late to personally treat Mary's illness.
Evelyn stepped closer, speaking earnestly to the headstone. "Mary, don't worry. I'll take good care of Emma and won't let anyone hurt her."
Emma wiped the corner of her eye and added another solemn comment.
Suddenly, a young woman emerged from the bushes, slowly walking in their direction.
She carried a bouquet of white lilies, but when she saw two people standing at the grave, she immediately turned and ran.
"Nina, it's Nina!" Emma took off after her.
"Nina, don't run, don't run!" Emma called from behind, but the woman fled like a mouse seeing a cat, running desperately downhill.
Evelyn appeared from nowhere and grabbed her. "Where do you think you're going!"
"Ah, ah!" Nina struggled frantically but couldn't speak, only making muffled sounds.
Emma ran over, raising one hand to stop her friend. "Evelyn, don't... don't hurt her."
"Don't be afraid, we won't hurt you, don't be afraid." Emma comforted her while reaching for her wallet, pulling out a yellowed photograph.
The photo showed four people, Mary, Mary's adopted son Nathaniel Scott, Nina, and herself.
Nina was Nathaniel's daughter. Four years ago, an accident had killed Nathaniel, and fourteen-year-old Nina had disappeared without a trace. Emma had been searching for her all these years—it was also Mary's dying wish.
"Do you see? I'm Emma, Nina. I'm Emma, Emma!"
Nina quieted down, staring at Emma, gesturing excitedly with her hands.
She tried to call out but couldn't speak, tears streaming down her face!
Emma knew she recognized her and stepped forward to embrace her.
The two clung to each other, weeping!
Soon after, the group headed down the mountain as storm clouds gathered, heavy raindrops pelting down and instantly forming a curtain of rain.
Little did they know, danger was gradually closing in.